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Abu Dhabi just got a new attraction! The Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi will be open to the public from 11 March. How cool is that!
What’s It?
The Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi will be open to the public from 11 March. President Sheikh Khalifa recently made the announcement in an effort to boost the understanding of UAE’s rich heritage and culture. The grand opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan will take place at 12:00 pm on 11 March. Following this, the palace will remain open for tourists everyday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Docked on the Ras Al Akhdar peninsula, close to the Emirates Palace Hotel, the palace spans a sprawling 150 hectares. A host of architects, interior designers, and contractors worked on the construction, which began in 2015.
.@HHShkMohd: @MohamedBinZayed and I inaugurated Qasr Al Watan -Palace of the Nation- in the Presidential Palace compound in Abu Dhabi. The new cultural landmark reflects our heritage and identity, opening its doors to our people, residents and visitors starting tomorrow pic.twitter.com/T8qYd8F41J
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 10, 2019
The interiors and the exteriors of the place bear a close resemblance to Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque, in that one can spot a lot of Mughal-era architecture, which dominated the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
The palace has an East and a West wing. The East wing houses artefacts which depict the Arab contribution in the fields of science, arts and literature. The West wing speaks more about the UAE governance and also has access to halls for official summits. In the evening, the palace also has an exclusive light and sound show for its visitors, which will be showcased on the facade of the building.
That aside, the palace also houses offices of President, Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
What Else?
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi has a lot more to explore! From the Grand Mosque to the Louvre and the happening Yas Island, here are top 5 attractions you must not miss when in Abu Dhabi.
